Security Intelligence

The Australian Government has announced a broad package of changes to national security laws to tackle terrorism at home and abroad. But it has some experts raising concerns about privacy. Beverley O'Connor speaks with research fellow in media and communications law at Swinburne University, Angela Daly.

The Federal Government has taken contentious changes to racial discrimination laws "off the table" to protect national "unity", whilst moving to toughen the nation's security laws to combat home-grown terrorism.

Tony Abbott said he had made a "leadership call" to abandon the changes, because they had become a "complication" in the Government's relationship with the Australian Muslim community.

At the same time, Attorney-General George Brandis confirmed plans to give security agencies sweeping new powers, including compelling phone and internet companies to retain customers' metadata.

In this update: An Israeli air strike has killed 10 people in Gaza; The French and German Presidents have led a ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Germany's declaration of war on France; The plight of a Down Syndrome baby born to a surrogate in Thailand has prompted international outrage; A massive rescue operation is underway in China after an earthquake killed more than 360 people.

A new report on a decade of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands says Pacific Island Forum representatives were largely shut-out of oversight bodies and reforms were pressed on Honiara by Canberra.

Details of a suppression order granted last month banning Australian media from reporting details of a corruption case involving international leaders and their relatives have been published by the WikiLeaks website.

In this update: The bodies of the first victims of Flight MH17 have arrived in the Netherlands; The US Secretary of State John Kerry says some progress is being made in efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza; Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke has been deregistered by the Australian Medical Board

In this update: Two planes carrying bodies from flight MH17 have landed in the Netherlands; A Perth couple who lost four family members in the crash have described their grief; A plane has crashed in Taiwan, killing more than 40 people; The UN Human Rights Commission is investigating whether Israel is committing war crimes in Gaza.

In this update: US Intelligence officials have released a cautious assessment of Russian Governement involvement in the downing of flight MH17; Israel's Prime Minister has asked the US Secretary of State John Kerry to reverse a decision by all American airlines to suspend flights to Israel; Australian Federal Police have interviewed an Australian Islamic Preacher who was deported from the Philippines and Newcastle Knights' Darius Boyd has been admitted to a mental health clinic to seek treatment for depression.

In this update: Eight permanent residents from Victoria are the latest victims of the Malaysian Airlines tragedy; Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have agreed to set up a security zone around the crash site; Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for a transparent investigation into the disaster; Palestinian officials say a family of eight, including four children, has been killed in northern Gaza.

The Government has detailed changes to give intelligence agencies more power in response to growing concerns about jihadists returning to Australia.

Attorney-General George Brandis has introduced legislation to Parliament to expand the ability of spies to hack computer networks, allow more flexible warrants and improve cooperation between different intelligence agencies.

The changes also set out tougher jail terms for people who leak information or make unauthorised copies of secret documents.

Senator Brandis flagged more controversial measures in the future, such as compelling phone companies and internet service providers to keep data for up to two years.